Prized prospect Kade Anderson pitched six quality innings to earn his first major league victory as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Texas Rangers 3-2 Wednesday afternoon.
Cole Young hit a tiebreaking two-run double for the Mariners (68-78), who evened the series between the American League West rivals at one game apiece with the rubber match set for Thursday.
Jake Burger and Corey Seager hit solo homers for the Rangers (72-74), whose two-game winning streak was snapped as they try to chase down Houston in the division and Cleveland in the AL’s wild-card race.
Anderson (1-1), the third overall pick in the 2025 draft after leading LSU to the College World Series championship, was making his fourth start in the majors. The left-hander allowed one run on six hits, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Closer Andres Munoz worked the ninth, striking out a pair, for his 26th save of the season.
Burger led off the top of the second inning by hitting a 2-1 fastball from Anderson into the second row of seats in right-center field.
The Mariners tied it in the bottom of the frame. Cal Raleigh drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Josh Naylor’s foul out to catcher Elias Diaz, who made a diving catch against the brick-covered wall behind the plate. Taylor Ward lined a two-out RBI single to center to tie it at 1.
The Mariners took the lead in the fourth. With two outs, Naylor grounded a single to center and Ward walked. Young doubled off the wall in right, the ball ricocheting past outfielder Brandon Nimmo to allow both runners to score for a 3-1 advantage.
Seager led off the eighth by hitting a first-pitch sinker from reliever Gabe Speier just over the left field fence, cutting Seattle’s lead to a run.
Rangers starter Cody Bradford (0-5) went four innings and gave up three runs on four hits. The lefty walked two and struck out one.
Wednesday’s game was moved up to a 1:10 p.m. local time start because the Seattle Seahawks are opening the NFL season against the New England Patriots at 5:20 p.m. across the street at Lumen Field in a Super Bowl rematch.
